Though he believes “many races would end in tears,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown has endorsed Lando Norris to win in a straight-up matchup versus Max Verstappen.

At the Miami Grand Prix, Norris finally completed his 110-race wait for his first Formula One victory. He did this by taking advantage of a timely safety car and then pulling away from Red Bull’s Verstappen in the final 25 laps.

Before the Safety Car, the McLaren driver seemed to have the speed to challenge Verstappen, and Norris’s performance has given fans hope that he may be a consistent contender for the rest of the season.

Furthermore, McLaren manager Bruce Brown is adamant that Norris possesses the skills necessary to defeat Verstappen in a direct fight.

At the 2024 Historic Monaco Grand Prix, Brown stated to Motorsport.com, “I do think Lando can beat Max in a straight fight.” I imagine many races would finish in tears—for one or the other, or both—and it would be an amazing struggle.

“But I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone faster than Lando in terms of raw talent.

“Some people may disagree, but in the end, we won’t know until we see them in the same car. I’m confident Max is just as fast.

However, based on what I’ve seen of Lando, I don’t think there’s a better racing driver out there.

“The fact that Oscar Piastri can match him is fantastic. I believe that as he gains experience, he will match him more frequently.

Now that the Briton has finally moved past the disappointment of his devastating near-miss at Sochi in 2021, Brown says that Norris’ breakthrough victory will help him unwind and give him more confidence.

“Definitely,” replied Brown. “There’s something special about a driver’s first victory.

“I recall that feeling of knowing that you’ve accomplished something, like getting your first win, which calms drivers and makes them less inclined to put in as much effort. You may strive too hard at something, and it can kind of backfire.”